No. 4 The PencilTopic: Pens, PencilsForbes.com readers, editors and a panel of experts rank the pencil as the fourth most important tool of all time, in terms of its impact on human civilization. (via pencilrevolution.com)

Duct Tape BandagesTopic: Design"The nice thing about 3M owning so many lines of products, is that they can cross the brands to make some interesting hybrids. Nexcare 3M Duct Tape Bandages are bandages made to look and feel like real duct tape." (via Strange New Products)

The Garbage Pail Kids ArchiveTopic: DesignThe Garbage Pail Kids Archive -- Anything any everything that has anything to do with the Garbage Pail Kids. Includes pictures of hundreds of cards and other memorabilia. (via linkfilter.net)

Is Octopus Ink Similar to Fountain Pen Ink?Topic: Pens, PencilsIs Octopus Ink Similar to Fountain Pen Ink? -- "The ink of the octopus, or any cephalopod, is composed of highly concentrated melanin. This is the same dark pigment that we humans have, and which is responsible for skin color and the color of dark hair. It is a natural dye that cephalopods manufacture in an ink sac. Most, but not all octopuses have an ink sac and produce ink, but a few, such as the deep-sea octopuses, have lost this ability." Read more at His Nibs (Image from Cephalopods - a World Guide)

Grid-it! NotepadsTopic: DesignGrid It Notepads -- "Grids form as essential part of our lives. We may not always notice them, but their influence on what we see, hear and do is everywhere. Grid-it! notepads and shelves are a selection of grids that played a historic role in the development of design systems." (via groupies)

How did you get your f***ing awesome job? - Daniel ClowesTopic: ComicsReadyMade interviews Dan Clowes -- Nice interview in ReadyMade with cartoonist (Eightball) and screenwriter (Ghostworld, and Art School Confidential, which will be in theaters this month) Daniel Clowes. (via Boing Boing)

Valentine Blatz opened his brewery in 1851. By 1900, Blatz was Milwaukee's third-largest brewery.The Blatz Brewery was forced to close in 1959, and the Blatz label was sold to Pabst Brewing Company. Heileman purchased the Blatz label in 1969 after Pabst's anti-trust problems. In 1996, Stroh's bought Heileman, continuing most of their production. Read more at beercollections.com.